9-12-2024 8:40pm

"COMING ATTRACTIONS"

Jeff Barto Editor

Ravens feature a trailer before Sunday's showdown at M&T Bank with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Trailer: Lock the Gates

It's time to Rise & Conquer as the Ravens take on the Raiders in the home-opener at M&T Bank Stadium.

VIDEO HERE

How George Warhop Is Coaching the Offensive Line Through a Difficult Situation

By Clifton Brown, BaltimoreRavens.com

There isn't a playbook for how George Warhop became the Ravens' offensive line coach.

Warhop is succeeding former offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris, a cherished member of the organization who passed away on Aug. 25. It would be a difficult situation for any coach to walk into, made even more challenging because it happened so close to the start of the regular season.

Head Coach John Harbaugh asked for Warhop's help, facing a set of circumstances that no one anticipated. Relying on his experience and instincts, the 62-year-old Warhop has accepted the responsibility, while leaning on the coaching staff and players to help each other move forward.

"First and foremost, the situation is tragic," Warhop said. "Joe and I were both in the World (Football) League together. I'm not saying we were close, close friends, but we were very good acquaintances. If he had a question, he'd call me. If I had a question, I'd call him, he'd call me back.

"The fact that John trusted me enough to call me … I'm grateful for that. The situation I walked into, what Joe had done here, made it feel very easy. The group is well-trained, they're very smart, they work their tails off, it's important to them. That's what he did before I got here. The whole deal is tough, we're just trying to make the best of it."

Warhop is coaching his own way, blending his approach with the foundation that D'Alessandris put in place. When he joined the Ravens on Aug. 14, Warhop had less than a month to get ready for Week 1, but from his first meeting with the players, he was direct about the approach he would take.

"I just said, 'Listen, I don't know what you guys are doing exactly,'" Warhop said. "I'm just going to listen as much as I can from a F INISH READING HERE